Root-cutter for drain-pipes.



No. 778,908. PATEN'IED JAN. 3, 1905. W. SUHUSSLER, ROOT CUTTER FOR DRAIN PIPES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 16,1903.

" WM) $42M- Patented. January 3 190 5 PATENT OEEICE.

WILHELM SOHIISSLER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

ROOT-CUTTER FOR DRAIN-PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,903, dated January 3, 190.5. Application filed July 16, 1903. Serial No. 165,775.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILHELM SOHUSSLER, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Root- Cutters for Drain-Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that drain-conduits of clay pipes in streets planted with trees get easily out of order because the roots of the trees often permeate the tightening clay filling of the -of the cylinder as faucets of the pipes and rapidly grow rankly in the water-pipes and by the accumulation of mud and the like cause obstruction of the pipes.

My invention relates to a device by means of which clay pipes of any size can be easily freed of the roots.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved rootcutting apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of a modification of the apparatus, and Fig. A an end view thereof.

The root-cutter according to Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a short cylindrical pipe-section a, the outer diameter of which is but a little smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe to be cleansed. Both ends of the cylinder are formed to circular cutters b and are well hardened. To the wall of the cylinder a hoop c is strongly riveted, which leaves the interior much as possible free, and has rings (Z attached to it to take up drawingropes. On the outside the cylinder is surrounded by a cover a, of soft leather or like soft material, in order to protect the enamel of the clay pipe.

In using the root-cutter the same is connected at either end to drawing-ropes and is drawn from one manhole in the pipe to the next one. All roots are thereby cut off and remain behind the blade of the root-cutter and can be thereafter removed from within the pipe by a pipe-cleanser of ordinary construction. By surrounding the cylinder with leather the enamel of the clay pipe is protected.

If the arrangement is to be utilized for cleansing domestic branch conduits, the cylinder is advantageously provided at but one end with a cutter, as shown in Figs. 3 and A, and on the other end with a cross-hoop f, of fiat iron. Through the cross of this hoopa bolt g is passed, to which a gas-pipe or the like for pushing the cutter forward may be applied. This device is introduced into the domestic branch conduit from the manhole of the pipe.

What I claim is 1. A root-cutter forclay drain-pipes consisting of a cylindrical pipe-section the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the clay pipe to be cleaned, both ends of said cylinder being sharpened to form circular blades, a hoop attached to the inside of the cylinder, and means to connect the cylinder to the hoop for drawing the cutter forward within the clay pipe, substantially as specified.

2. A root-cutter composed of a cylindrical body having a sharpened edge and a hoop secured to the inside of said body, substantially as specified.

3. A root-cutter composed of a cylindrical body having a sharpened edge, a hoop secured to the inside of said body, and a flexible cover iiurlrounding the body, substantially as speci- In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILHELM SCHUSSLER.

Witnesses HENRY HAsrER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

